I know it's hurt'n but i just went straight in and let the software (there are a ton of plugins for Ardour and what not) do all the effects and cleaning up. I did use a mixer as well. I just obviously plugged it straight into the Line in. Now that i am starting to use and look at this stuff again (it has been a while) i have come to the realization that Linux audio is now on par ( i want to say above but i'll be civil ) with Windows. If you have used the likes of Cubase, Cakewalk and such - you will not be unhappy with linux audio at all. It's actually very powerful. Linux Rules! :-))))))))))))

I've used Cakewalk and a few others...

I've been working for the last year to find a desktop Linux that I'm happy with... I want to get away from Windows as much as possible.

For this application I just want something I can get for lower cost than Windows, Cakewalk, etc. And run more reliably.

I want to let this PC sit in my basement and run all the time... I may even set up an FTP server on it so my buddies can log in and download or upload files to it any time... so Windows is out.

(I don't want to have to go down there and reboot it every other day)

But I also know that the hardware support isn't quite what it is for Win and Mac... but it's getting there.

How do you like the 2.6 kernel BTW?

If you are looking for comparable programs, Ardour and Rosegarden will be very familiar to you. But don't rule out Audicity (as i mentioned above). You can record some basic tracks and it has monitoring! They can be mixed down and you can master the track in something else. I know there are mastering programs for linux, just not off the top of my head or without turning around and switching on my other computer - lazy. As for the 2.6, it has made my 64bit a reality. I have written extensively on this in these forums, but overall i like it. It has low latency built in and all of the other goodies i need to have in order to get my 64 up and running well.

Nice... I've been looking at an emachines 64 bit laptop this week and drooling. :)

I like audacity... I've played with it a bit. Haven't used Rosegarden but I've heard really good things about the latest version.

Once I get a distro and an install nailed down I'll have to start playing with all of them and figure some things out...

Thanks again!